The Weekly Five: Jodie Foster

Ever since her debut in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Jodie Foster’s racked up an impressive career, complete with two Oscars. Her performances in 1976’s Taxi Driver and 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs are still referred to today, and she’s yet to make a truly rotten movie.

Her new dramedy, The Beaver, opened Friday.

5. The Accused (1988)

Her rape drama garnered her the first of two Oscars. In The Accused, she plays rape victim Sarah Tobias, who nearly loses her revenge because of her personality. Foster takes the role and runs with it, and I’m fairly certain her last scene won her the Oscar.

4. A Very Long Engagement (2004)

Her near-cameo role, done entirely in French, is one of the highlights of an already brilliant, time-twisting French WWII-set love story.

3. Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)

Her tomboyish character in Alice certainly helped her gain her role in Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, and it was one of the better characters in an already brilliant drama.

2. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

In one of the greatest psychological thrillers ever, Foster’s Clarice Starling is pitted against Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter in a game of wits. Needless to say, Foster is more than adept in the role, and wins her second Oscar.

1. Taxi Driver (1976)

As the young prostitute Robert de Niro’s Travis Bickle saves, Foster is a revelation. As great as she was in Alice, nothing compares to her here. I’m Ricky Bobby, and if you haven’t seen this movie, then fuck you.

Honourable Mentions: Inside Man (2006), Panic Room (2002), Flightplan (2005)

Wasn’t able to see in time: The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002), The Brave One (2007)

Next Week: Rebecca Hall

The Week That Was

The Good, the Bad, and the Weird (2010) – Kim Ji-woon

A thoroughly ridiculous (and not in the good sense) Western spoof. It seems like it should work, but it’s too long by about an hour and nothing really works; not the humour, not the actions scenes, and certainly not the unfortunately labyrinthine plot.

Grade: C+

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) – Blake Edwards

Such a charming, sweet movie. 100% of the credit for its charm, though, comes from its brilliant star, Audrey Hepburn. In one of cinema’s greatest ambiguous characters, she makes existentialism look downright fun. And at this point in American culture, you have to see Breakfast. I’m glad I did.

Grade: A

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – Jonathan Demme

One of the best whodunits ever, elevated by two brilliant central performances. Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter is a masterclass in acting, and Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling is one of the best protagonists ever written

Grade: A

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974) – Martin Scorsese

One of Scorsese’s rawest, truest dramas about a single mother trying to make end’s meet. Ellen Burstyn is a revelation as Alice Hyatt, the “singing waitress”, and there’s an awesome, post-Taxi Driver Jodie Foster cameo thrown in for good measure.

Grade: A

The Accused (1988) – Jonathan Kaplan

One of the more moving movies I’ve seen recently (less the terrible 80s-centric score, but they can’t all be perfect), The Accused is a poignant and well-acted legal revenge drama. Jodie Foster won her first Oscar for it, and it’s easy to see why.

Grade: A-

The Weekly Five: Jesse Eisenberg

One of today’s rising stars is Jesse Eisenberg. Some write him off as a Michael Cera wannabe, but, much as I love Cera, he can’t do what Eisenberg does. Imagine Woody Allen’s neuroses mixed with Christian Bale’s intensity, with a tinge of Cera’s awkwardness. There we go.

His new animated film, Rio, came out Friday.

5. Zombieland (2009)

In the best romzomcom since Shaun of the Dead invented the genre, Eisenberg gave mainstream audiences a taste of his hardcore neuroticisms. Apparently they liked it, because he’s in a summer comedy with Aziz Ansari now.

4. Solitary Man (2010)

Playing a college student giving Michael Douglas a tour of his college, Eisenberg wasn’t given much of a role. It goes to show his talents that he was able to make an impression with such little screen time.

3. Adventureland (2009)

In Greg Mottola’s severely underrated indie-com, Eisenberg takes his first leading role and runs with it, giving one of the better performances of the year.

2. The Squid and the Whale (2005)

In Noah Baumbach’s brilliantly-scripted New York-set drama, Eisenberg plays the elder son of divorcing couple Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney. I like to think of Baumbach as an angrier Woody Allen, and Eisenberg does him justice.

1. The Social Network (2010)

He deserved that Oscar he lost to Colin Firth for this movie. He gives the best male leading performance of the year (and his competition included past Oscar winner Javier Bardem), and gave heart to a character generally thought of as heartless.

Honourable Mention: The Hunting Party (2007)

Wasn’t able to see: Holy Rollers (2010), The Village (2004)

Next Week: I’ll be taking a break next week to focus on school

The Week That Was

Scream (1996) – Wes Craven

And thus begins my watching (finally) of the much lauded Scream franchise. The first installment (generally realised as the best) does not disappoint. It’s scary as hell, and funny enough to hold its own with Sam Raimi’s great Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn.

Grade: A-

Scream 2 (1997) – Wes Craven

We can add another sequel to add to Randy’s great sequel list: Scream 2. Faster and funnier (if not as original) than the first, Scream 2 amps up the irony-drenched humour, but has a very big heart as well.

Grade: A-

Arthur (2011) – Jason Winer

Starts (very) well, but it has a saggy middle and a sappy end. Only Russell Brand’s magnetic energy, as well as his awesome chemistry with both Helen Mirren and indie darling Greta Gerwig, who, after this and No Strings Attached, needs her own damn romcom.

Grade: C

The Squid and the Whale (2005) – Noah Baumbach

A prickly, well-written, excellently-acted little familial drama from Noah Baumbach (who would go on to do prickly, well-written, etc. familial dramas Margot at the Wedding and Greenberg). Jesse Eisenberg and Jeff Daniels are the highlights, but Laura Linney’s overlooked performance is brilliant as well.

Grade: A

Scream 3 (2000) – Wes Craven

New writer Ehren Kruger can’t keep up with old scribe Kevin Williamson, but Scream 3 is still a smart, sharp, scary ride. Also, Patrick Dempsey may have missed his calling on Grey’s Anatomy. He does a mean homicide detective.

Grade: B+

The Hunting Party (2007) – Richard Shepard

If you accept a decent majority of this “true” story as The Men Who Stare At Goats-style movie hokum, The Hunting Party is actually a pretty fun and exciting journalism thriller. Richard Gere and Terrence Howard have excellent chemistry as old journalistic partners, and Diane Kruger has an awesome cameo. Now, about that ending…

Grade: B

The Week That Was

Source Code (2011) – Duncan Jones

An excellent sci-fi thriller. Take a pinch of Minority Report, a hint of Blade Runner, a smidge of Moon, and a large dollop of Inception, and you’ve got Source Code. Also, director Jones gets the best performance out of Gyllenhaal since freaking Donnie Darko. So, props.

Grade: A-

Grave of the Fireflies (1988) – Isao Takahata

A terribly moving and heartbreaking picture, as good as they come. Caused me to break down crying, in public, no less.

Grade: A

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) – Scott Derrickson

A ridiculous, unscary, and worst, boring horror movie dressed up in Law & Order clothes. Certified, award-winning great actors Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, and Jennifer Carpenter class up this piece of shit a little, but in all honesty, it’s a wannabe thinking man’s horror flick. Its great paradox is that it doesn’t let you think. At all.

Grade: D+

Win Win (2011) – Tom McCarthy

A simple and sweet little dramedy that works far better than it has any right to. Also, is unique in the fact that this is the first time I have ever felt roused by a sports movie. Ever.

Grade: A-

Hanna (2011) – Joe Wright

A thrilling, shocking, and above all, brilliant thriller, Hanna is the best film of Joe Wright’s short career. Reteaming with his Atonement star Saoirse Ronan (who is excellent), he makes Hanna the second great film of the year.

Grade: A

Shakespeare in Love (1998) – John Madden

A fairly large disappointment, from the 93% on RottenTomatoes and the seven Oscars. Oh, well. It’s still a funny and touching look at what behind the scenes of Romeo & Juliet could’ve been, but likely weren’t. The acting’s hammy on everyone but Judi Dench and Gwenyth Paltrow’s parts, and the ending blows. So, it’s an Oscar movie.

Grade: C+

Miral (2011) – Julian Schnabel

A wildly unfocused, incredibly biased, and worst, unconvincing look at the creation of Israel. Also, if a movies is called “Miral”, then why did you make Miral only a passing character, Julian Schnabel?

Grade: C-

In the Bedroom (2001) – Todd Field

A highly potent familial drama with three excellent central performances from Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, and Marisa Tomei. This is one of the “truest” dramas ever, as Roger Ebert put it, and first-time director Todd Field really takes advantage of shooting on location in Maine.

Grade: A-

The Kennedys (2011) – John Cassar

A potentially enthralling and fascinating miniseries is completely and utterly wasted underneath what is essentially a smear campaign against the Kennedy family. Maybe that’s a tad harsh. It’s just useless and not insightful in the least. The only things that keep it from absolutely sucking are Greg Kinnear and Tom Wilkinson’s performances as JFK and his father, respectively.

Grade: C+

The Weekly Five (Ten): Tom Wilkinson

One of our times’ greatest character actor, along with Richard Jenkins, Tom Wilkinson is constantly underrated (even with a few Oscar noms).

His new political thriller, The Conspirator, opened Friday.

10. RocknRolla (2008)

In Guy Ritchie’s return to form from the awful Revolver and even worse Swept Away, Wilkinson gets his real first chance to do some top-notch slumming. And boy, does he slum well.

9. Cassandra’s Dream (2007)

In Woody Allen’s vastly underrated London-set thriller, Wilkinson plays uncle to brothers Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell. And wait until you hear what being his nephew entails…

8. Recount (2008)

In this Jay Roach-directed HBO movie, Wilkinson plays a member of George W. Bush’s campaign team, against Kevin Spacey on Al Gore’s.

7. In the Bedroom (2001)

Wilkinson earned his first of two Oscar noms for this film, about a Maine family whom tragedy suddenly befalls.

6. John Adams (2008)

Playing Ben Franklin, of all historical figures, in this HBO miniseries, Wilkinson is as on the top of his game as ever.

5. Michael Clayton (2007)

Earning his second Oscar nom, Wilkinson brilliantly plays a corporate lawyer slowly losing his mind in this excellent thriller from Tony Gilroy.

4. Batman Begins (2005)

In Christopher Nolan’s brilliant prequel to The Dark Knight, Wilkinson plays one of three interconnected villains, along with Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy.

3. Sense and Sensibility (1995)

He doesn’t have the biggest role in this excellent Austen adaptation, but any Wilkinson is good Wilkinson.

2. The Ghost Writer (2010)

In Roman Polanski’s masterpiece of a political thriller, Wilkinson has a small role, but damn if he doesn’t wring every bit of suspense and menace out of it.

1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

In Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman’s masterwork, Wilkinson plays lovestruck boss to Kirsten Dunst’s assistant.

Honourable Mentions: The Green Hornet (2011), Duplicity (2009)

Dishonourable Mentions: It won’t win me any fans, but Shakespeare in Love (1998), The Kennedys (2011), Ride With the Devil (1999), Rush Hour (1998), and The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Wasn’t able to see: Wilde (1997)

Next Week: Jesse Eisenberg

The Weekly Five (Ten): Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett is one of the most talented actresses working today, as evidenced by her five Oscar nominations and one trophy.

Her new thriller, Hanna, came out Friday

10. Ponyo (2009)

A wonderful little undersea adventure, Blanchett lends an ethereal quality to it. Her character, the Mother of the Sea, is nothing if not regal, something Blanchett excels at.

9. Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)

Jim Jarmusch’s weird little movie made of shorts was made even better (and weirder) by Blanchett’s short. She plays cousins, essentially having a conversation with herself for three or four minutes. It’s a testament to her talent that she makes it convincing.

8. The Aviator (2004)

Blanchett’s always had a penchant for real-life characters, and she won her Oscar for this one: Katharine Hepburn. In a film full of celebrity caricatures (Gwen Stephani, really?), Blanchett and Leonardo DiCaprio stand out in the crown with actual performances.

7. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

In Peter Jackson’s star-studded Tolkien adaptation, Blanchett plays Galadriel, Frodo’s otherworldly mentor. I can’t think of a better actress for the role.

6. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

5. Notes On a Scandal (2006)

In what I think is her best role, Blanchett plays against type as the weaker in a relationship. In two of her three relationships in the movie, she is not the Queen Elizabeth we’ve come to expect. No, she’s a much more tender actress here than that. And she’s all the better for it.

4. Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

3. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Blanchett plays one of the smaller, yet stronger characters in this brilliant film, this was made just after her big break in Elizabeth.

2. I’m Not There (2007)

A masterpiece, plain and simple. Director Todd Haynes elicits fucking brilliant performances from everyone in his ode to Dylan, but none were as brilliant as the great Cate.

1. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

In Wes Anderson’s irony-drenched nautical magnum opus, Blanchett plays an excellent (and pregnant) foil to Owen Wilson’s lovestruck sailor, proving to everyone that she does have a funny side.

Honourable mentions: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), The Good German (2006), Elizabeth (1998)

Dishonourable mention: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Wasn’t able to see in time: Babel (2006)

Next Week: Tom Wilkinson

The Week That Was

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) – Anthony Minghella

A wondrously creepy little psychological thriller disguised as an Italian travelogue. Brilliant direction from the late Minghella, and great performances from all six major actors result in a masterpiece.

Grade: A

Elizabeth (1998) – Shekhar Kapur

Undeserving of most if the accolades it got, Elizabeth is a totally unrealistic historical film, but a damned entertaining one. Cate Blanchett does wonders with an essentially one-note character that director Shekhar Kapur tries to ignite life in, and future Doctor Christopher Eccleston is as good a villain as you get in a film like this.

Grade: B

Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) – Jim Jarmusch

A zany little feature made of short films all centred around coffee and cigarettes. It may sound like some NYU student’s thesis film, but Jarmusch makes it work, with random cameos from Steve Buscemi, Cate Blanchett, and best of all, Bill Murray.

Grade: A-

El Amor Brujo (1986) – Carlos Saura

A brilliant cinematic melodrama/opera, El Amor Brujo has some dated trappings, but is otherwise a totally potent flamenco soap opera. That also somehow reminded me of Dogville.

Grade: A-

Robin Hood (2010) – Ridley Scott

An actively mediocre period piece actioner, Robin has some decent performances from Crowe and Blanchett, but they get smothered under Ridley Scott’s over-direction and its ungainly length. Also, it barely deserves the Robin Hood name. It’s beyond a reimagining, it’s blasphemy to the crown of Errol Flynn.

Grade: B-

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) – Shekhar Kapur

Much, much better than the original. The Golden Age is much more clear about what it wants, and therefore elicits better performances from its typically stacked cast. Blanchett and Morton, especially, as cousin-enemies, are Oscar material. Unfortunately, this one was under-appreciated and only Blanchett got the nomination.

Grade: B+

My Favourite Films, A-Z

I saw this on another film blog and thought it looked pretty cool. So, here goes.

It’s essentially my favourite films per letter of the alphabet.

(Note: my favourite films of all time are bolded).

A.

Adam (2009) – Max Mayer

Adaptation (2002) – Spike Jonze

Adventureland (2009) – Greg Mottola

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) – Michael Curtiz

Airplane! (1980) – Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

Alien (1979) – Ridley Scott

Aliens (1986) – James Cameron

All About My Mother (1999) – Pedro Almodóvar

Almost Famous (2000) – Cameron Crowe

Amélie (2001) – Jean-Pierre Jeunet

American Beauty (1999) – Sam Mendes

American Psycho (2000) – Mary Harron

Annie Hall (1977) – Woody Allen

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) – Andrew Dominik

Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) – John Carpenter

Away We Go (2009) – Sam Mendes

B.

Back to the Future (1985) – Robert Zemeckis

Bad Education (2004) – Pedro Almodóvar

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009) – Werner Herzog

Battleship Potemkin (1925) – Sergei Eisenstein

Before Sunrise (1995) – Richard Linklater

Before Sunset (2004) – Richard Linklater

Big Fish (2003) – Tim Burton

The Big Lebowski (1998) – The Coen Bros.

Billy Liar (1963) – John Schlesinger

Biutiful (2010) – Alejandro González Iñárritu

Black Swan (2010) – Darren Aronofsky

Bloody Sunday (2002) – Paul Greengrass

Blue Valentine (2010) – Derek Cianfrance

Boogie Nights (1997) – Paul Thomas Anderson

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) – Paul Greengrass

Brick (2005) – Rian Johnson

Broadway Danny Rose (1984) – Woody Allen

The Brothers Bloom (2009) – Rian Johnson

C.

Casino Royale (2006) – Martin Campbell

Catfish (2010) – Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) – Mike Nichols

Chicken Run (2000) – Peter Lord, Nick Park

Children of Men (2006) – Alfonso Cuarón

Chungking Express (1994) – Kar Wai Wong

The Class (2008) – Laurent Cantet

Clerks (1994) – Kevin Smith

Clerks II (2006) – Kevin Smith

Cold Souls (2009) – Sophia Barthes

The Cove (2009) – Louie Psihoyos

Crazy Heart (2009) – Scott Cooper

Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) – Woody Allen

The Crimson Pirate (1952) – Robert Siodmak

Cyrus (2010) – The Duplass Bros.

D.

The Dark Knight (2008) – Christopher Nolan

Dawn of the Dead (1978) – George A. Romero

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) – Robert Wise

Dead Man (1995) – Jim Jarmusch

Defiance (2008) – Edward Zwick

The Departed (2006) – Martin Scorsese

Desperado (1995) – Robert Rodriguez

Die Hard (1988) – John McTiernan

District 9 (2009) – Neill Blomkamp

Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) – Stacy Peralta

Dogville (2003) – Lars von Trier

Donnie Darko (2001) – Richard Kelly

Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying About the Bomb (1964) – Stanley Kubrick

Dracula (1931) – Tod Browning

E.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) – Steven Spielberg

Ed Wood (1994) – Tim Burton

Edward Scissorhands (2000) – Tim Burton

Escape From New York (1981) – John Carpenter

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Michel Gondry

Everyone Says I Love You (1996) – Woody Allen

The Evil Dead (1981) – Sam Raimi

eXistenZ (1999) – David Cronenberg

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) – Banksy

F.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) – Wes Anderson

Fargo (1996) – The Coen Bros.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – John Hughes

Fight Club (1999) – David Fincher

Finding Nemo (2003) – Andrew Stanton

Frankenstein (1931) – James Whale

Frost/Nixon (2008) – Ron Howard

Funny People (2009) – Judd Apatow

G.

Gamer (2009) – Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

Garden State (2004) – Zach Braff

The Ghost Writer (2010) – Roman Polanski

The Girlfriend Experience (2009) – Steven Soderbergh

The Godfather (1972) – Francis Ford Coppola

Goldfinger (1964) – Guy Hamilton

Gomorrah (2008) – Matteo Garrone

The Graduate (1967) – Mike Nichols

Grindhouse (2007) – Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez

H.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) – Woody Allen

Hard Candy (2005) – David Slade

Hard Eight (1996) – Paul Thomas Anderson

Hotel Rwanda (2004) – Terry George

The House of the Devil (2009) – Ti West

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) – Hayao Miyazaki

The Hurt Locker (2009) – Kathryn Bigelow

Husbands and Wives (1992) – Woody Allen

I.

I Am Love (2010) – Luca Guadagnino

I’m Not There (2007) – Todd Haynes

Inception (2010) – Christopher Nolan

The Incredibles (2004) – Brad Bird

Inglourious Basterds (2009) – Quentin Tarantino

Into the Wild (2007) – Sean Penn

The Italian Job (1969) – Peter Collinson

J.

Jaws (1975) – Steven Spielberg

Jules and Jim (1962) – François Truffaut

Juno (2007) – Jason Reitman

K.

Kick-Ass (2010) – Matthew Vaughn

Kill Bill vol. 1 (2003) – Quentin Tarantino

Kill Bill vol. 2 (2004) – Quentin Tarantino

The Killer Inside Me (2010) – Michael Winterbottom

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) – Shane Black

Knocked Up (2007) – Judd Apatow

Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance (1983) – Godfrey Reggio

L.

L.A. Confidential (1997) – Curtis Hanson

La Femme Nikita (1990) – Luc Besson

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004) – Wes Anderson

The Lion King (1994) – Roger Allers

Lord of the Flies (1963) – Peter Brook

Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) – Peter Jackson

Lost in Translation (2003) – Sofia Coppola

M.

Manderlay (2005) – Lars von Trier

Manhattan (1979) – Woody Allen

Mean Girls (2004) – Mark Waters

Miller’s Crossing (1990) – The Coen Bros.

Misery (1990) – Rob Reiner

Monsters (2010) – Gareth Edwards

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) – Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones

Moon (2009) – Duncan Jones

Mullholland Drive (2001) – David Lynch

My Neighbour Totoro (1988) – Hayao Miyazaki

Mysterious Skin (2004) – Gregg Araki

N.

Network (1976) – Sidney Lumet

Night of the Living Dead (1968) – George A. Romero

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – Henry Selick

No Country For Old Men (2007) – The Coen Bros.

North by Northwest (1959) – Alfred Hitchcock

Notes on a Scandal (2006) – Richard Eyre

O.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) – The Coen Bros.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001) – Steven Soderbergh

The Odd Couple (1968) – Gene Saks

Once (2006) – John Carney

Out of Sight (1998) – Steven Soderbergh

P.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) – Guillermo del Toro

Paranormal Activity (2009) – Oren Peli

Porco Rosso (1992) – Hayao Miyazaki

The Princess and the Frog (2009) – Rob Clements

Psycho (1960) – Alfred Hitchcock

Pulp Fiction (1994) – Quentin Tarantino

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1984) – Woody Allen

Q.

R.

Rabbit Hole (2010) – John Cameron Mitchell

Rachel Getting Married (2008) – Jonathan Demme

Raging Bull (1980) – Martin Scorsese

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – Steven Spielberg

Rashômon (1950) – Akira Kurosawa

Rear Window (1954) – Alfred Hitchcock

Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008) – Darren Lynn Bousman

Requiem For a Dream (2000) – Darren Aronofsky

Reservoir Dogs (1992) – Quentin Tarantino

The Road Warrior (1981) – George Miller

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Jim Sharman

Rushmore (1998) – Wes Anderson

S.

The Science of Sleep (2006) – Michel Gondry

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) – Edgar Wright

Se7en (1995) – David Fincher

Sense and Sensibility (1995) – Ang Lee

A Serious Man (2009) – The Coen Bros.

Seven Samurai (1954) – Akira Kurosawa

Shadow of the Vampire (2000) – E. Elias Merhige

Sid & Nancy (1986) – Alex Cox

A Simple Plan (1998) – Sam Raimi

A Single Man (2009) – Tom Ford

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) – Kerry Conran

Sleeping Beauty (1959) – Clyde Geronimi

Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – Danny Boyle

The Social Network (2010) – David Fincher

Spirited Away (2001) – Hayao Miyazaki

Splice (2010) – Vincenzo Natali

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) – Nicholas Meyer

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – Irvin Kershner

Sunset Boulevard (1950) – Billy Wilder

Sunshine Cleaning (2009) – Christine Jeffs

Survival of the Dead (2010) – George A. Romero

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) – Tim Burton

Synecdoche, New York (2008) – Charlie Kaufman

T.

Taking Woodstock (2009) – Ang Lee

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) – Anthony Minghella

Taxi Driver (1976) – Martin Scorsese

The Terminator (1984) – James Cameron

There Will Be Blood (2007) – Paul Thomas Anderson

Time Bandits (1981) – Terry Gilliam

Toy Story Trilogy (1995-2010) – John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich

U.

Unbreakable (2000) – M. Night Shyamalan

Uncertainty (2009) – Scott McGeehee, David Siegel

United 93 (2006) – Paul Greengrass

Up (2009) – Pete Doctor

Up in the Air (2009) – Jason Reitman

V.

V For Vendetta (2005) – James McTeigue

A Very Long Engagement (2004) – Jean-Pierre Jeunet

The Virgin Suicides (1999) – Sofia Coppola

The Visitor (2008) – Tom McCarthy

W.

W. (2008) – Oliver Stone

Wall•E (2008) – Pete Doctor

Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) – Steve Box, Nick Park

Watchmen (2009) – Zack Snyder

Where the Wild Things Are (2009) – Spike Jonze

The White Ribbon (2009) – Michael Haneke

Winter’s Bone (2010) – Debra Granik

The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Victor Fleming

The Wolf Man (1941) – George Waggner

A Woman is a Woman (1961) – Jean-Luc Godard

X.

X2 (2003) – Bryan Singer

Y.

Y Tú Mamá También (2001) – Alfonso Cuarón

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010) – Woody Allen

Young Frankenstein (1974) – Mel Brooks

The Young Victoria (2009) – Jean-Marc Vallée

Z.

Zodiac (2007) – David Fincher

The Weekly Five: Ellen Page

Ever since her breakthrough in 2005 with Hard Candy, Page has been all over, from weird thrillers (Peacock) to blockbuster mind-fuckers (Inception) to adorable indie flicks (Juno). She’s been nominated once for an Oscar, and I predict a whole lot more.

Her new superhero flick, Super, hit theatres Friday.

5. Peacock (2010)

In this (unfortunately) straight-to-DVD thriller, Page excellently plays a mother in distress opposite Cillian Murphy’s sociopath. It’s really an excellent film, and should be checked out straight away.

4. An American Crime (2007)

Two great actresses giving two great performances in a Misery x10 story can only equal one thing: a brilliant, brilliant movie.

3. Hard Candy (2005)

She seems to have a penchant for fucked-up, creepy films, and Hard Candy is no different. A shocking look at pædophelia and gender, Hard Candy was overlooked. Big mistake.

2. Juno (2007)

Her real breakthrough was in this, a brilliantly written, excellently acted, very funny indie movie. Page’s Juno MacGuff is one of cinema’s most indelible recent characters, and she deservedly got an Oscar nom for it (although she was robbed of a win).

1. Inception (2010)

Part of a huge, immensely talented cast of mainly unknowns (and Leonardo DiCaprio), Page more than held her own in this shifting dream world. And her scenes with Joseph Gordon-Levitt are…perfect.

Dishonourable mentions: The pretentious Smart People (2008), and the godawful Whip It (2009).

Next Week: Cate Blanchett